Orival Dean Kime was born July 10, 1933, in McComb, Okla., to Grace and Henry Kime. He passed away Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, peacefully at the Lewiston Veterans Home.
At a young age, his family moved to the Napa Valley in California. He attended schools in Sonoma and Napa, graduating from Napa High School in 1952. He was a gifted athlete, setting school records in four sports, football, basketball, baseball and track, and earned athlete of the year his senior year of high school. His favorite sport was baseball.
His hitting and pitching caught the eye of some scouts, and he was offered and signed a contract to play professional baseball with the St. Louis Browns. A change of ownership with the franchise landed him in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He began his baseball career in Pocatello, playing in the Pioneer League. After playing in the Pioneer League, he was moved up to Class A baseball of the Western International League and joined the Lewiston Broncs July 10, 1953. He loved Lewiston and formed many lasting friendships in the Lapwai community.
After playing two years of baseball, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Germany, and while there, he played baseball and basketball for the 2nd Armored Division. Sadly, while playing baseball in Germany, he injured his arm, ending his professional baseball career. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and went to work for Albertsons Foods in Lewiston.
He was very proud of his Native American heritage as a member of the Potawatomi Tribe. After his return to the valley, he started playing basketball for the Nez Perce Nation. He had fond memories of playing basketball with close friends - Badge Arthur, Charlie Taylor, Leroy Seth, Bob Sobotta, Eddie Madsen and Jess Tilden.
In 1962, he married Darlene Hove. They moved to Portland, Ore.; Centralia, Wash.; and Stockton, Calif., with Albertsons transfers, moving back to the valley in 1978. After retiring from Albertsons in 1986, they purchased the Gateway Inn and Tack Room in Asotin, operating it until 2001. Dean and Darlene divorced in 1997, after 35 years of marriage, but remained close friends.
Dean passed his love of sports and baseball on to his children and grandchildren, always coaching and teaching. He was president of Asotin County Babe Ruth for several years and during that time he decided that Clarkston High School needed new dugouts. Through fundraising efforts, Dean, with the help of Buck Fuller, Irish Clovis, and other dads and players, built dugouts for the high school. He was able to return to that field last May and was able to see his grandson Dylan hit a home run.
Dean is survived by his three children, Chris and wife Nancy Kime, Deana and husband Craig Flinders, and Brad and wife Corrina Kime; and four grandchildren, Brock Beeler, Dylan Beeler, Kayne Kime and Kenadee Kime. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Henry Kime; brother Clayton Kime; and sister Wanda.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Lewiston Veterans Home for the special treatment he received. He was always happy there and always had a smile on his face.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at Vineland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to the Clarkston or Asotin high school booster clubs.
Please sign the online guest book at www.merchantfuneralhome.com.
